billings



(No Model.)

B. M. BILLINGS.

COMBINED PEN HOLDER AND FOUNTAIN.

N0. 390,555. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR mace/k I RICHARD M. BILLINGS, OF OYVEGO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TO CHARLES P. STARR, OF SAME PLACE.

ONE-HALF COMBINED PEN HOLDER AND FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 890,555, dated October 2, 1888.

Application filed March 22, 1888.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Brennan M. BILLINGS, a citizen of the" United States, residing at Owego, in the county ofTioga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Pen Holder and Fountain, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements uponink fountain or reservoi rattach ments for writing-pens,the special object of the invention being to provide an extremely simple, inexpensive, and practical device for attachment to an ordinary pen-handle, which will hold a supply of ink and automatically feed the same to the nibs of the pen in properlyrcgulated quantities until the supply in the fountain is exhausted, the amount of ink fed tothe pen being governed by the pressure brought to bear upon the nibs of the pen by the penman, and which will at the same time serve as a holder for the pen, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The invention consists, essentially, in combining with a pen-holder a fountain or reservoir which is adapted to rest and press lightly upon the back of the nibs or points of the pen and automatically feed the ink thereto regularly and freely, according to the amount of pressure upon the pen, the outlet-aperture of the fountain being so arranged with reference to the pen that when there is no pressure upon the nibs of the same the fiow of ink will be stopped, whereby clogging of the pen, caused by the ink collecting and solidifying upon the same, will be entirely obviated, as will be more fully hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred mode of carrying out my invention, Figure i represents a perspective view of my improved combined pen holder and fountain attached to an ordinary pen holdcr or stick; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the combined holder and fountain detached; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional view of the device; Fig. 5. a transverse sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 3, showing the (No model.)

manner in which the ink is fed to the nibs of the pen; and Fig. 6, a view of the blank from which the combined holder and reservoir is formed.

Referring to the drawings by letter, Adesignates an ordinary pen handle or stick; B, a tubular pen-holder,of the ordinary or any approved construction, formed from an oblong or quadrangular sheet or plate of metal, which is bent or formed into a cylinder of suitable size to [it upon the end of the pen-handle in the usual manner, this holder being provided with the usual cars, a a, which serve to hold the pen; 0, an ordinary Writing-pen inserted in the holder, and D the reservoir, which is the spe cial feature of this invention, and which will now be described fully.

Projecting from the lower end and formed integral with the holder B is an extension or tongue, E, which is preferably slightly elastic or springy. Upon the lower end of this tongue and resting lightly against the back of the pen is the tapering ink reservoir or fountain D, this fountain being preferably formed integral with the tongue and bolder, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The side of the fountain which rests against the center of the back of the pen is slightly flattened and coneaved, so as to lie close up to the convex back of the pen, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The fountain is practically a funnel-shaped receptacle closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, the fountain extending down and resting closely, but lightly, against the center of the back of the pen. The fountain, near its lower end andin its under concave side, is provided with a small ink aperture, I), this aperture being so placed that it will come directly upon the line of the split portion of the pen. (Most clearly shown in Fig. 5.) Normally, this aperture is closed, the nibs of the pen coming closely to gether and completely cutting off the supply ofinkto the pen. \Vhen, however, the nibs of the pens are pressed upon, as in writing, they will necessarily spread apart and thereby let flow out a thin small stream of ink, just sufficient to supply the pen and no more, it being evident that the quantity of ink supplied to the pen will be governed altogether by the degree of pressure the penman exerts ICO upon the pen. By this arrangement the sup ply of ink to the pen will be properly regulated and entirely automatic, thereby prevent ing clogging of the nibsoi the pen and a waste of ink.

It will be observed that by thus constructing the whole device of a single piece of metal it may be made at an extremely small cost. Another advantage is that the reservoir will not require to be adjusted to its proper place by the penman, it being so constructed that it willlalways touch upon the pen at the proper point when the same is inserted in its holder.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a combined pen-holder and ink-fountain consisting of a pen-holder, B, provided with cars a a to retain a pen, a curved elastic extension, E, formed integral with the said pen-holder, and a conical inkfountain closed at its contracted end and formed integral with the said exten sion E, the said fountain being slightly flattoned and concaved on its under side and prd vided with an ink-aperture, I), on such concaved side, substantially as herein set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an imperforated conical ink-fountain for pen-holders, the said fountain being flattened and concaved on its under side, so as to fit closely the back ofthe pen when applied to the pen-holder, the said fountain being also provided with an aperture, 1), in its under concave side, this aperture being adapted to rest on the line 'of the split of the nibs of the pen and be normally closed thereby, whereby when the nibs of the pen are spread apart by the pressure brought to bear. upon them the ink will be automatically fed from the fountain, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD M. BILLINGS.

Witnesses:

WALTON A. BARTON, EUGENE F. BARTON. 

